AGI Outreach Events and Activities in 2025
RAINSS workshops (Atlanta, GA | October 2025)
Education Specialists from AGI put on three workshops for teachers and community members in Atlanta, Georgia about designing and utilizing rain gardens in science education. Check out the the Resilience and Innovation in Nature-based Stormwater Solutions (RAINSS) project website for more details about rain gardens and how to implement one and/or utilize one as a teaching tool in your community!
GET-Out at GSA Connects (San Antonio, TX | October 2025)
Science teachers joined AGI for a Geoscience Experiences for Teachers Out in the Field (GET-Out) workshop at the Geological Society of America (GSA) Connects Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Participants explored geologic mapping and energy concepts through field trips and classroom sessions, working with geoscience professionals, university students, and informal educators.
ESIP Out2Lunch Presentation (Virtual | October 2025)
Lauren Brase, Education Specialist in the Education and Outreach Department at AGI, unveiled the 2025 Earth Science WeekToolkit, themed Energy Resources for Our Future, during an Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) Out2Lunch webinar on October 2, 2025. The presentation showcased AGI’s free posters, activities, webinars, and other resources to help educators, students, and outreach specialists explore energy from multiple perspectives.
GET-Out at the AEG Annual Meeting (Chicago, IL | September 2025)
Middle and high school science teachers joined AGI at the Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists (AEG) Annual Meeting for a Geoscience Experiences for Teachers Out in the Field (GET-Out) workshop that blended classroom learning with field experiences. Participants also attended conference sessions, connecting with geoscience professionals and gaining fresh insights and strategies to bring back to their classrooms.
Geoheritage Workshop for Educators (Virtual | August 2025)
AGI and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) co-hosted a free virtual geoheritage workshop on August 6, 2025, introducing educators to new geoheritage resources that connect geology, culture, and the arts. Designed for grades 3–8 educators, curriculum developers, and instructional coaches, the event highlighted free AGI and USGS materials and invited participants to provide feedback on their classroom use. Educators who pilot the resources in Fall 2025 are eligible for a $200 stipend for sharing their implementation experiences.
Teacher-Researcher and Curriculum Experience (College Station, TX | August 2025)
AGI’s Education and Outreach staff partnered with the International Ocean Discovery Program to facilitate middle and high school educators working with scientists at the Gulf Coast Repository to analyze previously collected ocean core samples and develop data-rich classroom lessons.
GET-Out at the ESIP Summer Meeting (Seattle, WA | July 2025)
AGI hosted the Geoscience Experiences for Teachers Out in the Field (GET-Out) workshop in collaboration with the Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) during the ESIP Summer Meeting. The event featured a teachers’ workshop—including a hands-on session on rain gardens—a field excursion, and conference presentations.
Mid-Atlantic Climate Change Education Conference (Annapolis, MD | June 2025)
Lindsay Mossa, Education Specialist in the Education and Outreach Department at AGI, attended the 6th Annual Mid-Atlantic Climate Change Education Conference, held at the scenic Philip Merrill Environmental Center courtesy of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The event’s dual-location format fostered both local collaboration and regional connection under the theme “Reconnecting to the Climate Community.” Participants engaged in dynamic sessions featuring resource-sharing, climate storytelling, and art, along with networking opportunities, live-streamed keynotes, and collaborative projects—all aimed at advancing climate change education and action across the Mid-Atlantic region.
Soil Science Workshop for Science Educators (Corvallis, OR | June 2025)
Teachers from across the country gathered in Corvallis, Oregon, for an immersive Soil Science Workshop for Science Educators, hosted by AGI and NRCS from June 24-27, 2025. The workshop deepened participants’ understanding of soil science and demonstrated ways to integrate it into standards-based curricula. The program featured more than eight hours of standards-aligned instructional activities, hands-on soil labs, and field excursions to various sites around Corvallis. Throughout the workshop, participants engaged with soil scientists, gaining valuable insights and practical strategies for bringing soil science into their classrooms.
NESTA Earth and Space Education Hour Presentation (Virtual | May 2025)
Lindsay Mossa and Lauren Brase, Education Specialists in the Education and Outreach Department at AGI, presented “Real Careers, Real Impact: AGI’s Career Explorer” during a National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA) “Earth and Space Education Hour” webinar on May 13, 2025. The presentation highlighted AGI’s Geoscience Career Explorer website and related resources designed to help students understand how geoscience careers contribute to addressing global challenges. Attendees also had the opportunity to engage with guest speakers whose careers focus on locating and managing freshwater resources.
Teacher Field Experience for Educators (Fort Dodge, IA | April 2025)
AGI facilitated a one-day, field-based professional development experience in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on April 17, 2025. Hosted by the Fort Dodge Quarry Manager at the United States Gypsum Company, the event welcomed local science teachers to explore gypsum mining and regional geology. The experience showcased real-world applications of geoscience and offered valuable insights for integrating industry connections into classroom instruction.
Geoscientist Outreach Initative (Middletown, PA | April 2025)
Professionals from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources attended a workshop with AGI’s Education and Outreach staff to participate in hands-on activities they can use when they conduct outreach. Check out the resources that were explored on the Geoscientist Outreach Initiative webpage.
National Science Teachers Association spring conference (Philadelphia, PA | March 2025)
AGI’s Education and Outreach team presented several sessions and staffed the AGI booth at the Spring 2025 NSTA Conference, held in Philadelphia, PA.
World Weather Watchers Symposium (Washington, D.C. | March 2025)
Dr. Ed Robeck, Director of Education and Outreach at AGI, was invited to attend Earth From Space: Weather Watchers Unite–a World Weather Watchers Symposium held at the Kennedy Center on March 31, 2025. The event featured dynamic presentations from students around the globe who spent the past year serving as “mission experts” on NASA’s Earth-observing missions. For example, students from Shibuya Makuhari School in Japan showcased their research using data from the NASA/JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission. Attendees also learned how these student “mission experts” used space-based technology to observe Earth’s climate and weather, and how they shared their research findings across continents.
STEM Night at Patrick Henry K-8 School (Alexandria, VA | February 2025)
On February 5, 2025, staff from AGI’s Education and Outreach Department participated in the annual STEM Night event at Patrick Henry K-8 School, engaging elementary students and their families in hands-on geoscience learning. AGI presented four interactive workshop sessions, “Learning Topographic Maps with Duplos” and “Exploring Elevation with Duplos,” where participants explored elevation changes and topographic representation through creative, hands-on activities. These sessions provided a fun and accessible way for young learners to develop spatial thinking skills while deepening their understanding of maps and landforms.
